The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP protection, describing the measure as political showmanship that does little to address Nigeria’s escalating insecurity.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the administration appears “more concerned with optics than implementing a comprehensive strategy” to tackle terrorism, banditry, and widespread abductions.
“While the directive makes for good headlines, it is neither new nor effective and demonstrates the government’s lack of understanding of the true nature and complexity of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis,” Abdullahi said.
The party recalled that similar directives were issued twice earlier in 2025 by the Inspector-General of Police, reportedly acting on presidential orders, but without any meaningful results.
Abdullahi added that redeploying police officers from VIP escorts would not resolve the nation’s growing threats, arguing that capability, not numbers, is Nigeria’s biggest security gap.
“Even if the latest directive is fully implemented, the broader concern remains: by their training and orientation, these policemen are ill-equipped for the scale and sophistication of Nigeria’s security emergencies,” he stated.
The ADC also challenged claims that the move would free up 100,000 officers for frontline operations, insisting that the security crisis requires more robust institutional capacity and modernization.
The party further criticised the plan to replace withdrawn police escorts with personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), saying the agency is not designed for counter-terrorism duties.
“Nigeria’s security challenges must be addressed comprehensively, not cosmetically. What the country needs is a coherent national security strategy anchored in modernization, intelligence, and institutional integration,” the statement added.
The ADC called for transparency, urging the government to publish data, operational frameworks, and logistics arrangements that would ensure the redeployed officers are effective in the field.
The party concluded by saying the administration must “move beyond announcements and press briefings” and begin an urgent overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture.
